The plays we like from today's NFL and NBA games, with the reason behind each.
The Desk saysTonight's plays: Monday Night Football in Seattle, the Thunder at the Cavaliers, and the Warriors at 10:00. Ten plays are up, grouped by tip time. Curry and Draymond are listed probable on FanDuel as of noon with rest tags, so check their status later.
Thunder @ Cavaliers
NBA · Mon 7:00 PM ET · Cleveland
OKC@CLE
★ Love
Evan Mobley
CLE · Mon 7:00 PM ET
OVER 16.5 POINTS
The DeskOver in 4 of his last 5, with a middle outcome of 18.5 points in about 33 minutes.
OKC@CLE
✔ Like
Ajay Mitchell
OKC · Mon 7:00 PM ET
UNDER 18.5 POINTS
The DeskOur middle outcome is 13.7 points in about 26 minutes. Under in 7 of his last 10.
Thunder @ Cavaliers. Outlier history read late morning.
Thunder @ Cavaliers. He is averaging 19.0 over his last five, which is the risk.
Wizards @ Magic
NBA · Mon 7:30 PM ET · Orlando
WAS@ORL
★ Love
Trae Young
WAS · Mon 7:30 PM ET
OVER 19.5 POINTS
The DeskOur middle outcome is 23.5 points in about 35 minutes against a 20.7 season average. Orlando is without Banchero and Suggs.
Wizards @ Magic.
Nets @ Knicks
NBA · Mon 7:30 PM ET · New York
BKN@NYK
✔ Like
Karl-Anthony Towns
NYK · Mon 7:30 PM ET
UNDER 38.5 POINTS + REB + AST
The DeskNew York is a heavy favorite, and our middle outcome is 35.1 combined. Under in 8 of his last 10.
Nets @ Knicks. A blowout could also trim his minutes.
Kings @ Mavericks
NBA · Mon 8:00 PM ET · Dallas
SAC@DAL
★ Love
Domantas Sabonis
SAC · Mon 8:00 PM ET
OVER 13.5 REBOUNDS
The DeskHe is averaging 15.8 rebounds and has cleared this in every game this season, with Dallas's Lively out. Our middle outcome is 14.3.
Kings @ Mavericks.
Bears @ Seahawks
NFL · Mon 8:15 PM ET · Seattle
CHI@SEA
★ Love
D'Andre Swift
CHI · Mon 8:15 PM ET
ANYTIME TOUCHDOWN
The DeskWith Monangai out, he has about 47% of Chicago's carries and 41% of its red-zone work. The risk: Seattle keeps Chicago out of the end zone.
CHI@SEA
✔ Like
Rome Odunze
CHI · Mon 8:15 PM ET
OVER 39.5 RECEIVING YDS
The DeskOur middle outcome is 41.7 yards. Over in 4 of his last 5 and 8 of his last 10.
Bears @ Seahawks. Monangai is out.
Bears @ Seahawks.
Trail Blazers @ Nuggets
NBA · Mon 9:00 PM ET · Denver
POR@DEN
★ Love
Jamal Murray
DEN · Mon 9:00 PM ET
OVER 22.5 POINTS
The DeskOur middle outcome is 25.0 points in about 37 minutes against a 25.8 season average. Portland is without Morant.
Trail Blazers @ Nuggets.
Suns @ Warriors
NBA · Mon 10:00 PM ET · San Francisco
PHX@GS
★ Love
Brandin Podziemski
GS · Mon 10:00 PM ET
OVER 14.5 POINTS
The DeskOver in 8 of his last 10, with a middle outcome of 16.0 points in about 32 minutes. The risk: if Curry plays, the shots shrink.
PHX@GS
✔ Like
Dillon Brooks
PHX · Mon 10:00 PM ET
OVER 21.5 POINTS + REB + AST
The DeskOver in 8 of his last 10, with a middle outcome of 22.2 combined. The risk: the line sits close to our number.
Suns @ Warriors. Curry and Draymond are probable on FanDuel as of noon, rest tags up. Check status later.
Suns @ Warriors.
The finals.
How Monday's featured games ended. Scores and player lines are from the CBS Sports box scores.
Thunder @ Cavaliers
ClevelandFinal
1
2
3
4
T
Thunder
26
33
31
27
117
Cavaliers
30
18
36
28
112
Oklahoma City won 117-112 in Cleveland, leading 59-48 at the half and holding on after the Cavaliers outscored them 64-58 over the last two quarters. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 43 points on 14-of-35 shooting with 8 assists, and Isaiah Hartenstein had 5 points and 14 rebounds. Ajay Mitchell added 20 points. For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell had 17 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists, Evan Mobley had 16 points and 7 rebounds, and Harden scored 14.
Wizards @ Magic
OrlandoFinal
1
2
3
4
T
Wizards
28
32
19
24
103
Magic
33
26
9
26
94
Washington won 103-94 in Orlando. The Wizards led 60-59 at the half, and the Magic scored just 9 points in the third quarter. Anthony Davis had 27 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals on 12-of-17 shooting, Kyshawn George scored 22, and Trae Young had 15 points and 9 assists in 34 minutes. For Orlando, Franz Wagner had 24 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists, and Desmond Bane scored 20.
Nets @ Knicks
New YorkFinal
1
2
3
4
T
Nets
21
23
35
11
90
Knicks
27
24
24
28
103
New York won 103-90 at Madison Square Garden. Brooklyn scored 35 in the third quarter to stay close, then managed only 11 in the fourth. Karl-Anthony Towns had 11 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists in 34 minutes, Jalen Brunson had 19 points and 6 assists, and Landry Shamet scored 22 off the bench. For the Nets, Julius Randle had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Michael Porter Jr. scored 18.
Kings @ Mavericks
DallasFinal
1
2
3
4
T
Kings
19
35
27
34
115
Mavericks
18
35
21
26
100
Sacramento won 115-100 in Dallas. The game was 54-53 at the half, and the Kings outscored the Mavericks 61-47 after it. Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. led the Kings with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, Monk scored 24 off the bench, and Domantas Sabonis had 9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 30 minutes. For Dallas, Cooper Flagg had 17 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists in 39 minutes, and Gafford and Clayton Jr. each scored 20.
Bears @ Seahawks
SeattleFinal
1
2
3
4
T
Bears
7
6
7
14
34
Seahawks
0
9
0
8
17
Chicago won 34-17 in Seattle, leading 13-9 at the half and outscoring the Seahawks 21-8 after it. D'Andre Swift ran 27 times for 69 yards and scored three touchdowns (1, 5 and 5 yards), the last two in the fourth quarter. Caleb Williams was 24 of 34 for 247 yards and a 1-yard touchdown to Luther Burden III, who caught 7 passes for 56 yards. Rome Odunze had 4 catches for 87 yards. For Seattle, Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 6 catches for 118 yards and a 43-yard touchdown, and Sam Darnold was 17 of 34 for 188 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Chicago outgained Seattle 363 yards to 252.
Trail Blazers @ Nuggets
DenverFinal
1
2
3
4
T
Trail Blazers
19
39
27
33
118
Nuggets
31
35
21
23
110
Portland won 118-110 in Denver, trailing 66-58 at the half and outscoring the Nuggets 60-44 after it. Deni Avdija scored 28 for the Trail Blazers, Donovan Clingan had 17 points and 18 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday had 17 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists off the bench. For Denver, Jamal Murray scored 35 points on 10-of-19 shooting and Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
Suns @ Warriors
San FranciscoFinal
1
2
3
4
T
Suns
31
26
36
20
113
Warriors
19
32
42
23
116
Golden State won 116-113. Phoenix led 57-51 at the half, then the Warriors scored 42 in the third quarter and held the Suns to 20 in the fourth. Stephen Curry had 34 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists in 32 minutes, Brandin Podziemski scored 20, and Bassey added 19 off the bench. For Phoenix, Devin Booker scored 26 and Brooks had 18 points and 8 rebounds.
The Desk's ideas, not guarantees. Lines and injuries change, so check the number and the official injury report before you play. 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.